20th Century History of New Castle and
Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens

CHARLES STAPF,

Charles Stapf[p. 872] who is now living in retirement, was for many years proprietor of the Wampum House, at Wampum, Pa. He has been a lifelong resident of Lawrence County, having been born at Mahoningtown, September 25, 1848, and is a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Klinedinst) Stapf.

Frederick Stapf was born and reared in Wurtemberg, Germany, and there learned the trade of a cooper. In young manhood, accompanied by his brother Andrew, he came to America, and they made their way to Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and in partnership they opened a cooper shop at Mahoningtown, now the Seventh ward of the city of New Castle. They started in a small way, but with the subsequent aid of Frederick's sons, acquired a large plant, which was operated successfully for many years. Frederick Stapf became a man of ample fortune, and at his death left each of his children the sum of $2,500. He was married at Mahoningtown to Elizabeth Klinedinst, who also was born along the River Rhine, in Germany, she being very young at the time her mother brought the family to America. Her sister, Margaret, wife of Henry Young, and her step-brother, William, also came at that time, all of them settling in Lawrence County. Frederick Stapf died in 1888, at the age of sixty-five years, and was survived eight years by his wife, who died at the age sixty years. Six children were born to their union: Charles, of Pennsylvania; William, of California; Elizabeth, wife of E. A. Blanchard, of Iowa; Frank, of Helena, Mont.; Adam, who died in 1902; and Emma, wife of Whitmore Bliss, of California.

Margaret B. StapfCharles Stapf was reared in Mahoningtown and spent a few years in attendance at the common schools, after which he learned the trade of a cooper in the establishment of his father. After spending fifteen years at that trade, he became superintendent of the Wampum Portland Cement Works, at Wampum, in which he was financially interested. He remained in that capacity three years, at the end of which time he purchased the Wampum House of Jacob Hyle. He conducted this hotel for a period of eighteen years, and established an enviable reputation with the traveling public, which was always glad of an opportunity to spend a night under his hospitable roof. He sold out April 1, 1906, since which time he has been living a retired life, in the enjoyment of a well earned rest after the many years of unceasing toil in the field of business. At the time he disposed of the hotel he erected a beautiful brick residence on Clyde Street, one of the finest homes in Wampum. Always a lover of fine horses, they have furnished a diversion from business cares during the past fifteen years. Clarence StapfHe has owned numerous fast horses, which have done well in circuit racing, and is at the present time owner of William O., with a record of 2:04¼, an animal of royal antecedents, which has been raced with great success. Mr. Stapf is the owner of the I.O.O.F. building, a large three-story brick structure, located on Main Street, in Wampum.

Mr. Stapf was united in marriage in 1876, with Miss Margaret Buchanan, a daughter of Andrew Buchanan, and they are parents of one son, Clarence. Mr. Stapf is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, at New Castle. Politically he has always been a stanch supporter of Democratic principles.


20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908

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